him who maketh his Angels Spirits and his Ministers a flame of fire whose Flesh is the Life of Men and his Light is as a Law that goeth forth whereby man is led to his food and the sons of men sees out of darknesse and this is he who cannot be limitted nor his person restrained in one place who filleth Heaven and Earth with his presence and appeareth at his pleasure to his own though the wise of the world knows him not and therefore limit him above the stars who dwelleth in the bodies of his Saints but as for the Reprobates they know him not so who have put the good day farre from them and hate reproof that they may spend their days in folly and feed themselves with the wind and fill their hearts with carnal delights When the hearts of the Children of Light are established with grace yet these will be disputing about the body of Christ but the body of sinne rules in them whereby they are darkened and become Heart-blind past Ephe. 4. 18 19. feeling the measure of God whose hearts are over-charged with surfeiting and cares of the world and their minds corrupted with Earthly things To such I say Cease your imaginations as to find out what Christ is in that state for he alone reveals himself in Spirit to such as wait in the Light and love that which is pure to such his appearance is as the Sun whose Rising is not by the Will of Man but for his appearing all the World must wait to be refreshed with the Beams of his Glory and to all who are yet in the night shall he appear if you look towards the place of his Rising which is not Lo here Lo there but within you in your Luke 17. 21. hearts and all who are come to the sure Word of Prophesie as to a Light that shines in a dark place to which you do well to take heed til the day dawn and the Day-star arise in your hearts you shall see the Sun arise where the day-starr appeares in your hearts if in the light you wait that shines in the darknesse and you shall feel the vertue and life of him and receive thereof to live in the same with him and you shall see him as he is and know him to be the Sun of Righteousnesse whose arising is with healing in his wings and whose breaking forth is upon all his enemies which over the seed hath raigned whose spirituall weapons are mighty through God to the palling down strongs holds casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalteth it self against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of himself and having in readinesse to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled And thus the Saints know the Son with his Light his power and dominion over all things in Heaven and in Earth who rules in righteousnesse in the hearts of his people trampling down Satan under their feet which Son of God Hypocrites call Lord Lord but the Devill they serves and obey and though such have got the words of Lord and Christ and Jesus yet they know not his light his power his kingdom and dominion over sin and the Devill in them to set them free therefrom by his Light and life Nor his blood to wash them from their pollutions and to present them without spot or wrinkle or any such thing And so you have made the name of Christ a reproach among the Nations who call him a redeemer but lives in your sins So as such as professe not the syllables of Christ and Jesus even from a principle of God within them many of them become your Judges as to moderation faithfullnesse and honesty Nay it is manifest amongst you that the name of Jesus which gives the Saints victory over sin you know not Who have it in words and therewith make a cover for your sin your pride Lust and excesse What covetousnesse and all manner of unrighteousnesse is covered over which a profession of the Name of Christ which redeems from those things all that knows him For none knowes Jesus further then they know a Saviour from sin And not a cover for sin and live in it for the promise of the Father is He shall save his people from their sins And the Children of the promise knowes this to be so without a cover or meaning to live in sin And none knowes Christ but who knowes the anointing and such need no man to teach them but as the Anointing teacheth them all things that is true if they abide therein and there is noe lye in it But who sayes they know Christ and are redeemed and commits sin not keeping his commands is a lyer And so abides not in the truth and anointing And so is of the Devil and not of Christ for he that abides in Christ sins not For the Name of Jesus Christ is power over all sin as it is known and the creature baptized into it by faith So all that know Christ know the seed the promise the word of Life the covenant the Heritage the righteousnesse the Kingdom the power the glory which is not of this world and the Father of all which you that commits sin have not seen Neither can any say that Jesus is Lord but by the Spirit so you whose knowledge is without Another Lord ruleth within Concerning the Ministry of Christ THe Ministers of Christ are ever Called out of the World and contrary to the world contrary to their own wills and the wills of all flesh for such have the Word who are begotten of the word and such are begotten contrary to the will of man and through such came the Scriptures which came not by the will of man but by the Spirit and so are of no private interpretation nor are his ministers of any private Call but of himself who hath all creatures in his hand to chuse whom he will to go on his message nor would he ever send by whom the Kings of the earth did chuse nor the powers thereof but such as they called and set up without his Immediate call was ever the great enemies to such as he sent and this is evident in all the Scriptures and in all histories since that when ever the mystery of iniquity had spread over and darknesse had passed over his seed and his people had broken his covenant and lost his word then he in love to his people sent out some Immediately who had his word in them to bear witnesse to the Lord against all their blackslidings and self wayes and formall worships and to such the worlds ministers or rather masters was ever enemies and sought to stirr up the powers of men against them to devour them alwayes under the name of Blasphemers and hereticks destroyers of worship and peace-breakers and enemies to authority when they are but sent of God to testifie against their false worships and to break the peace of the
have bowed down to the god of this World and his begettings are in all houses and assemblies and the name of the Lord you have polluted before all the world yet will you lean upon the Lord and say The righteousnesse of Christ the righteousnesse of Christ so that you have more dishonoured his Righteousnesse then all that ever were before you and the name of a Christian is become a reproach in all the world because of your unfaithfulnesse to his righteousnesse For this will he plead with you and will take from you the Covering that you may appear and he will bring forth his Righteousnesse to your Confusion and his own shall witnesse him in the Gate and his work shall praise him openly so shall sinners be afraid and fearfulnesse surprize the Hypocrite when God shall own his own righteousnesse and judge the wicked after the works of their hands Concerning the Word THe Word is that which was in the beginning and was the beginning of all visible things and that by which all things were made but it self is invisible which though it be the Upholder of all visible things yet can no visible thing reveal it yet doth it reveal the ground and use and end of all visibles And as without it was nothing made that was made so without it is nothing soen as it was made nor any thing can be guided nor used in its pure place but what ever man medles with not having the Word in him to guide order and sanctifie the same he defiles and it is polluted as to him Nor can this Word be comprehended in Heaven or Earth without this Word can no Scripture be read with profit for it opens the Scriptures and the Scriptures declare of it yet cannot the Scriptures nor all the Writings of the World comprehend it nor declare the depth and extent of it which is beyond all Generations yet is it the Teacher and Guide of his own in all Generations and in all Generations of Saints hath been known in measure more or lesse immediatly though it hath no place in the worlds profession So hearing of a Word but not knowing it they say The Letter is it But who hath the Word hath that which comprehends Death and Hell and the Grave that which binds and chains Satan overcomes the World gives the issues of Life and Light whereby the new Creation is known wherein dwels Righteousnesse and this every one hath so far as he hath the Word abiding in him but so hath not every one that hath the Letter Nor can any mans will change the Word for it is contrary to all mens Wills nor can any mans Wit open or expound this Word which confounds the Wisdome of the Wise and brings the understanding of the Prudent to nought that hides from the Wise and Prudent and reveals to Babes and the Word grows and increases within the Babes but so doth not the Letter and as it grows it sanctifies all that have it but so doth not the Letter and it s as a Fire and a Hammer to all that have it but so is not the Letter It is quick and powerful to the dividing asunder the Joynts and Marrow the Soul and Spirit where ever it is so is not the Letter And the Word is a Reproach to every Carnal Mind even to them especially who profess the Letter Whosoever have the Word with it are washed and cleansed and translated from the World and conformed to God so far as they have it and it reconciles to God all that have it but many have the Letter who know not God but are in the unclean Customes and Fashions and wayes of the World not changed nor reconciled None can keep the Word and his sins both but the Letter without he may for where ever the Word is known the new Creature is witnessed who is created to walk in Righteousnesse and who hath the Word sees all who say they know the Word and walk not in Righteousnesse to be Lyars and do not the Truth and with the Word of Truth are such cast out and judged to be those who dishonour the Word as though it were a polluted thing or could dwell with pollution which is a Fire to burn up all uncleannesse where ever it is and where sinne stands the Word is not known But such reading of the word which came to the Saints in obedience to which they were washed and purified and in which they were begotten again they finding that the Saints had this word but not knowing it they say the Letter is it which doth but declare of it and so their word hath not power in them to overcome the Devil break the bonds of wickedness whereas the word of God is not bound but free sets free all that have it abiding in them which breaks down the seat of sin and raises up and quickens the seed of God which lives in the life of God which through sin death hath passed over and so quickens the mortall body to newness of life So that the old life and the word cannot stand together in one body nor doth the old man who lives in that life know any word but the letter and the life of that he knows not but in the Imaginations searches with the fallen wisdome for that which God hath in his wisdome hid from it and in this is all the darknesse to this the Scriptures are spoken as a Parable and Mystery which in that disobedient wisdome cannot be found out so is the Simplicity deceived with Meanings Addings and Wrestings which are all in that man that cannot enter in whom the Word dwells not nor can any thing such do be accepted because it is not from the Word for all that comes not from the Word by the Word is condemned not to be the Work of God for all that God made he made it by the Word and it was seen in the light to be good which was made with the Word and here all stood in the reconciliation to God but when man went out from the Word then he went out from the good and so with the Light was seen to be in the evil and so was accursed from the same Word against which he had sinned and so long as out of that Word he acts all is accursed being Self and not God that works it And so man being gone out into the world the light of the Gospel is preached to turne man again to know the word that coming to the knowledge thereof in his heart and having his mind stayed thereto in the light he may come to see the power of the word working in Spirit working out the unclean nature and the rebellious will and working in the pure nature in the Cross slaying the carnall man with all his affections and so through death thereof raising up the new man making a new Creation in Christ Jesus with power unto Good works from the eternall word and this God owns when he is
he do any thing but what he see the Father do in that worke he was found doing the same as he was taught of the Father in his obedience to him not what the Scribes and Pharisees did though they sat in Moses seat nor what the world approved but what was contrary to all the world and contrary to his own will onely submitting to the moving of the Spirit of the Father that dwelt in him by which alone he was to be guided and furnished to every good work And all that believe in him and follow his light he leads into the same knowledge and obedience out of all carnall knowledge power and obedience and by faith the creature is made partaker of this obedience and the power thereof from faith to faith And all that have learned him as he is so are they in this present world both in law and life and power and Spirit and in all this in the measure as he is learned and as any comes to the unity of the faith in him to his measure stature and fulnesse so the obedience is but one the power one the way one and the Son one and the Father one And this is not any thing from without but in Spirit it is learned and obtained and the mystery of it is hid from all who are without and the ministration of it is spirituall within whereby that obedience is known which is to the truth through the Spirit which is in life and not in imitation in the will of God and not in self will which obedience stands not in any thing seen from man or by man done thereby to imitate or doe the like for that is two obediences but it stands in Christ Jesus and in his one obedience to the Father seene in the light and in the faith received whereby the believer is made one in it and it in him that as the same Father calls for the same obedience in Spirit so in the same Spirit doth the believer offer up himself and all he hath in the same power and obedience in Christ Jesus And so as the creature by faith partakes of that one obedience in the second Adam he is made righteous and no further even as all are made sinners as they partake of the disobedience of the first Adam and no further And who knows to partake of this obedience knows the eternal Spirit in which all the Children of God have been taught and enabled to this one obedience in their several measures ever since the world was which is not works by them done but the everlasting righteousnesse of God obeyed in that Spirit according to the motions thereof seene in the light of Christ which none knows who are heart-blind and who minds the motions of the flesh and obeys them their minds being gone out to carnall pleasures the Call to this obedience is not by them heard neverthelesse the same carnall Spirit that leads out into the world teaches to make an imitation of this obedience and so deceives the simplicity by setting up a likenesse without life and so glories in appearance but not in heart And the witnesse of God in the heart or Conscience of such testifying to the face of truth that their obedience is not perfect nor accepted they conclude that there can be no perfect obedience attained in this world they not knowing the mighty powerful working of God in Spirit which worketh in them perfectly who believe and walk in the light whereby such become his workmanship in Christ Jesus wrought into his obedience and his obedience into them in their measure till they become of one heart one mind one soul one spirit one flesh and bone and blood and one obedience and one life that it is no more we that lives but Christ that lives in us and the life that we now live is by Faith in the Son of God and though the fulnesse of this obedience is not attained at once yet the least measure of it is perfect and accepted and so accepted in him in whom it is wrought as the obedience of a Child is as pure clear and willing as the strong mans even so is the new Birth in Christ Jesus according to what God requires thereof who never requires but what he gives and never gives but what is perfect and what he perfectly accepts which gifts are all in his Son and in him the least is accepted and every one that therein exercise themselves without mixture Concerning good Works AS there is but one good so there is but one Worker of good in Heaven and in Earth who by the Word of his Power made all good in the beginning and in this good Work and Will was Man wrought in the Will of God in his Image and goodnesse he stood but falling from this stedfastnesse that was in God and be taking him unto self thereby to become wise he became subtill and proud in himself seeking to be as God was cast out from God his Power Love and goodnesse and being fallen into the dark Imaginary of his own heart and finding himself under the Curse whereof the Light of Christ in the Conscience is a Witnesse he hath set himself to make a likenesse of God Christ and Gods Worship and good Works Faith Hope Patience Love c. but being under the powers of darknesse neither knows God nor his Work but is deceived by the Prince of Darknesse and so doth please himself with an Imitation of God and his Work but without power and so as he imagines is doing good but the testimony of God in his heart bears witnesse against him that his Work is not perfect nor accepted He also imagines that he is redeemed but is still under the commanding power of Satan led Captive at his will who that he may the more strongly blind him he leads him sometimes into a seeming worship that so he may not so much suspect his way nor be too much troubled at his other unrighteous practices so that the worst of men in this state have a worship and each sort thinks they are right though there be but one way and they all without it and each in their thoughts are not so bad as others but have their severall good works though there be but one good work and they all out of it in their own works And it is no small work to undeceive the least of these who are thus conceited though men of greater wits and parts as they call them which is but a higher deceipt may lead them from one deceipt to another yet all the worlds wisdome cannot bring them into the good work nor the way wherein it is wrought Onely such who mind the light of Christ in their dark hearts which manifests to them their Evill deeds and reproves them for them and can believe it to be the light of Christ and thereto take heed to follow it out of the world and carnall mindednesse and in that light wait till the Living-Word
Love to the Lost AND A HAND HELD FORTH To the Helpless to lead out of the Dark Wherein is plainly held out divers perticular things as they are learned of Christ and are most needfull to be known in all who professe godliness Set forth chiefly for the directing the Simple into the living way of Truth as it is in Christ Jesus the Righteous that therein they may come to the life and power of that which the World hath in words which being received satisfies the weary Soul and makes the Creature well-pleasing to his Maker Wherein also there is some Reproofs to the Dark World By one that seeks the redemption of Sions Seed and a Lover of the Creation of God who is called JAMES NAYLOR London Printed for Giles Calvert at the Black-spread-Eagle at the west end of Pauls 1650. Let him that reads understand FRiends The things following which I have declared of are not things of Man nor by Man did I receive them but by the revelation of Jesus Christ which is contrary to the Wisdom and Will of Man Nor to the wisdome and will of Man do I commend them to be received for the natural mans wisdome receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God therefore would devour that which is born thereof so to that wisdom I appear not being a leight thing to me to be judged thereof But if any one know the gift of God and a measure of that Spirit which openeth the bosome of the Father and reveales his secrets unto Babes The least measure of that if not clouded with the Imaginations will savour these things and to such they may be profitable So to the light of Christ that which changeth not in every one I appear to be judged and discerned which is one in the Male and in the Female for therein alone both these things and all other that proceeds from that root makes for gathering Creatures together into that One Name and Seed wherein all the Nations of the earth are blessed As therewith they are gathered into the one Word of Faith and Power of Life to believe and speak the same things in the godly Conversation which leadeth to the end of all Rents Schisms Heresies and Errours Sects and Divisions into that one Name to be baptized where the fulness of God is Blessed for ever So whoever thou art that shall read these particulars following or any thereof and shall find any thing which for the present thou canst not receive be not hasty in judging that which yet thou know'st not nor kick not against that which comes contrary to thy will lest thou put far from thee in thy will that which therewith thou canst not call again and the day of thy visitation pass over unawares and in the evil day thou be made to cry out How have I hated Instruction and resisted the day of Healing And this know that no Prophecie of old ever came by the will of man nor by the will of man could be received but by those that stood in their own wills was ever resisted And so must it be in these things unless with the eye that never changeth thou read'st them which if thou know'st such a thing in thee and stand single therein in the meek Spirit not lifted up above thy measure thou wilt come to feel how that of God in thee answers to the things of God as face answers face and find them to agree with the life of the Scriptures though for the present some things appear darkly for to that Seed which is not of this world which savours spiritually and judgeth not according to outward appearance is my service And to that of God in every Conscience am I manifest if therein I be received however a good savour am I unto the Lord in them that are saved and in them that perish at that day when it shall appear that I have not handled the Word of God deceitfully Though with the Swine who feeds on the Husk this may be trampled on and I sought to be rent if to such it come to whom I send it not A Table of the several Particulars following Concerning the Fall of Man Pag. I. Concerning Light and Life p. 1. Concerning Righteousnesse p. 3. Concerning the Word p. 8. Concerning Worship p. 8. Concerning Errour Heresie c. p. 11. Concerning Faith p. 13. Concerning Hope p. 15. Concerning Love p. 17. Concerning Judgment p. 19. Concerning Perfection p. 21. Concerning Government or Magistracy p. 24. Concerning Obedience p. 27. Concerning good Works p. 29. Concerning Election and Reprobation p. 32. Concerning the New Birth p. 34. Concerning the Baptism of Christ from that the World so calls p. 37. Concerning the Lords Supper p. 43. Concerning Redemption p 47. Concerning Justification Sanctification and Mortification p. 50. Concerning the Law p. 52. Concerning Christ Jesus p. 56. Concerning the Ministry of Christ p. 59. Concerning Free-Will p. 62. Concerning the Fall of Man IN the beginning God made all things good so did he Man whom then he made in his own Image and placed in him his own Wisdome and Power whereby he was compleatly furnished with Dominion Power and Authority over the Works of Gods hands knowing the nature and use of each Creature by what God had placed in him of Himself who in that state was the Son of God whose seed was in himself God also made the Tree of Life in the mid'st of the Garden and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and both of these was good in their place but the Tree of Knowledge not good for food Therefore did he that made it forewarn of it as the thing wherein death was placed as in the other Tree was Life And herein was the Blessing and the Curse placed the Life and the Death the Obedience and the Disobedience Election and Reprobation And this was good for man in their place whilst man stood in his place guided by that which placed him in the good and fore-warned him of the knowledge and gave him power against it whilst he stood in that Wil which had set all these things in their place which Will was free for God and from sinne and the will of God and the will of Man was one and so at unity with all the Creation But when man looked out into the other where he ruled who abids not in the Truth wherein the disobedience was received in of that which was contrary to the will of God to feed upon then he joyned to that which was contrary wherein the weakenesse was and the death darknesse and blindnesse as to the things of God and that which freely he had received of God And grew subtil within himself and wise to do evil so that he had lost the will that was free to wait upon God in his wisdome and counsel freely to be cared for by him and so from the uprightnesse and innocency and pure wisdome and spiritual power which God had placed in his heart he
fell and into the self-inventions which he had chosen in the contrary will and so entring into the forbidden thing became accursed lost the measure of God his honour and likenesse in which he stood above the Creation and so became bruitish in his Understanding and as to the things of God as the Beast that perish for the Seed he had lost wherein the Election the Wisdome the Authority and all haopinesse present and eternal did consist and so became led by another Seed wherein God had placed emptinesse of himself which he had raised up for dishonour And here it is that man hath lost his dominion over the Devil by letting him in which otherwise had never power further then to proffer which now being got in with a shew of God and godlinesse into the Temple of God the principle part in man and man having joyned in one with him now is become his Captive in whom he makes havock beguiling him of the life of simplicity and godlinesse and perverting his ways as to the end for which man was made yea all the mercies that God gives to that Creature he being above and Ruler in the heart are turned to the Lust that is Carnal and Self-ended and to that Lust and Self-ended things the man becomes a Servant yea hath so lost his dominion as he is brought to serve the Creature over which he â—as Ruler Hence it is that some become servants and are captivated some with Covetousnesse some with Pride some with Lust and many other several things which are become Lords in the heart of man whereby he is hurried with all eagernesse out of all moderation hunting after vanity and folly yea what vain toyes and foolish trifles hath led away the heart of man from the pure wisdom of his God till he scarce knows any end of running after changable things gluttony and excesse in dyet yet not satisfied foolery in apparel without all stay or stop being wholly fallen from that which is unchangable the true satisfaction and honour and the further man goes in this state the more emptinesse and darknesse comes in upon himself and being fallen under the earthly principle he is covered with thick darknesse so that the mind of God he knows not nor his woful state he sees not the God of this world having blinded the eye which should show him his misery and the ear being stopt which should hear the voyce of the souls shepheard whereby he should be quickned his eye and ear being led out to Carnall things and there captivated so that the voyce of the Spirit he knowes not And so being become heart-blind cannot receive the way in Spirit and whatsoever is spoken to man in this state in love to the soul which lies in death the Serpent being above upon the earth catcheth the thing into the Imaginations and the Creature being led to consult with him there in the flesh he beguils the Creature of the simplicity and keeps the Creature so in Self that he regards not the Seed of God which is fallen under all this death and darknesse and so long as the Creature will but hearken to him and his lying promises he will lead him from one thing to another in things without but never to see that from whence he is faln Therefore to all in this state Christ and all his Ministers preached repentance that all might turn their minds from these dead works to the living God who is a Spirit known in Spirit and so worshipped whose Kingdom is within and whose light is in the midst of all this darknesse though the darknesse comprehend it not but as many as repenâ—â— of their following this way of self-wisdom and knowledge and come to stand still to such he shows his Salvation and his Kingdome near at hand which the Serpent whilst they follow him doth put afar off And as the mind is staid to wait for the Kingdome of God in Spirit the god of the world comes to be denied and resisted And as the mind is staid in the light from hearkning to the earthly So that Seed which lies in Death comes to hear the voyce of the Sonne of God and to receive life and strength from the Word whereby it is raised out of the grave and appears above the earth to receive from the Father the dew of heaven whereby it is nourished and refreshed and as man beholds the Seed growing so he comes to see the new Creation and what he lost in the Fall and so is restored by the power of the Word in the Son of God into his Dominion power and purity made able to resist the Devil to chuse the thing that is good and delight in it as before he delighted in the contrary so comes man to be reconciled to his Maker in the Eternal Unity beyond what is to be expressed The wisdome and power received from above whereby the heart is set free from Corruption and made able to escape the pollutions of the world and to run the pure ways with delight which is the glorious liberty of the Sons of God the resurrection from the dead and the entrance into the everlasting rest And now all you who find your selves fallen from your Dominon that measure of God which he placed in man from which he received power and wisdome over the evill one and now find your selves led Captive with the evil one into the ways of Death Sinne and Evill so that Corruption hath got dominion in you and over you never look to be restored by that which leads out for that which acts in the flesh is onely evill and will but lead you from Mountain to Hill and so keep you doing without in self without life and power healing your selves in false perswasions which will not stand in stead in the evil day nor reconcile to God to be accepted in any thing you do for that is the first man with his righteousnesse But to that from which you are fallen must you look return into that from which you are gone out that by the light that 's in the midst of all this darknes and death you may be led in again by the blood of the Cross through the fire and sword into the Garden of God where he plants and feeds into which the old man with his will and works cannot enter nor he whose Leader is any visible thing for by the Spirit from whence man is fallen and gone out by the same must he be led in again and that seed which man hath sinned against must make the atonement to which the Promise is which is free and sets all free as they were born thereof So that which leads out into the Knowledge is the Fall but that which leads into the Simplicity of Life which is manifest in the Spirit and not in the Knowledge of the first man that leads to the Resurrection of Life for it is the hidden wisdome that God ordained before the world unto glory So to
Therefore faith Jam. 4. 4. God let love be without dissimulation abhor that which is evill cleave to Rom. 12. 9. that which is good and that love is it which covers sinne which condemns sin unto death and covers it with righteousnesse Otherwise saith the Scriptures he that covereth sinne shal not prosper And saith James Prov. 28. 13. Jam. 5. 20. He which converteth a sinner from the error of his way shall save a Prov. 29. 5. soul and shall hide a multitude of sinnes And saith Solomon Open rebuke is better thâ—â—â—â—â—â—t love such wounds are precious to them that know what love is but he that spares mens wickednesse hates Gods righteousnesse And so with the Light is seen Gods love and the Devils love and each loves his own works and so do their Children in whom they raign For who ever loves the one hates the other and he that serves the one hates the other and so the Servant pleads for his Master whom he loves Concerning Judgment TRue Judgment as it is known to men is a gift from the Spirit of God set in the heart of every one who dwells in the Light of Christ which Judgmennt passeth upon all that 's in the Creature contrary to the life of God and so as it is received springs up with Light and Salvation to the redeeming of the heart from all uncleannesse condemning all which is contrary to purity that God may be seen in his dwelling place with his righteousnesse and so he is said to redeem Zion with Judgment and her Isa 1. 27 Converts with Righteousnesse and to purge away the filth of the Daughter of Zion with the Spirit of Judgment and the Spirit of burning And if there be a dwelling in the Light this Judgment ceases not till the Isa 4. 4. Throne of Christ be established in the heart in peace for this is his Judgment and is upon all that stands up against his Kingdom and this Isa 9. 7. is the cause why the enemies of righteousnesse love it not but have turned it into gall and wormwood which the righteous delights in and loves who are redeemed and saved therewith and knows it to be the the Promise first to be received For saith the Lord I will make Judgment Isa 51. 4 to rest for a light of the people which being received his righteousnesse is neer to be revealed Therefore his Judgment must passe before upon all that 's Unrighteous and none can have his righteousnesse but who receives his Judgment Hos 6. 5. Therefore saith the Lord I have hewed them by the Prophets I have slain them by the words of my mouth and my Judgments are as a Light that Dan. 7. 2 goeth forth And for this end is Judgment given to the Saints of the most High And saith the Lord righteous men shall judge them after the manner of Adulteresses and after the manner of women that shed blood because they are Adulteresses and blood is in their hands thus will I cause loudness to cease out of the Laud. Therefore is Ezekiel so often commanded to judge them and cause them to know their abominations And Jeremy was full of the fury of the Lord and he was weary with hold 〈◊〉 in And Micah was full of power by the Spirit of the Lord and of Judgment to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sinne And so in all Ier. 6. 11. Ages he placed his Judgments in his servants who were to judge the Heathen and such as knew not God therewith and so many as did believe Mic. 3. 8. it and receive it did repent and found mercy and the rest were hardened And this judgment is eternal and shall stand in Heaven as it is passed upon earth And this was committed to the Apostles as a Doctrine and Heb. 6. 2. whom they bound were bound and who by it they loosed were loosed therefore did all the Saints love judgment for it is the ministration of Christ ministred out upon all that 's against Christ and that which is against Christ is against the Soul so this judgment must begin at the 1 Pet. 4. 17 house of God but where the Devil keeps the house he rejects it and saith Solomon the ungodly scorneth Judgment and evill men understand it not So saith he there i that 's destroyed for want of Judgment and Prov. 19. 28. he that hath not Judgment is blind and sees not that his Enemy raigns which must raign till Judgment be brought into victory and set in the Prov. 28. earth but when Judgment is laid to the Line and Righteousnesse to the Prov. 13. 25. Plummet then the Covenant with Hell and Death must be disanulled so all that are in this Covenant loves not that which breaks it Isa 28. 17 18. And this is your Case who hates reproof who when you are told of your evil hearts where sinne lives and your cursed crooked natures you say Who made thee a Judge And many say You could like what we say but that we judge people so you are they that hate Judgment and would not have the Ministry of Christ to go on for who hath the Spirit of Christ hath the Spirit of Judgment and who serves that Spirit must sâ—ffer it to speak and judge in them and all that oppose it shall be condemned by it Therefore saith David the tongue of the Righteous talketh judgment the Law of God is in his heart his steps shall not slide but the wicked Psal 137. 30 31 32. seekech to slay him So for uttering the Judgments of God against the Wicked have the just ever suffered and for the same do you now hate them and condemn them and you are in the same nature and covenant that your Fore-fathers was in who shed the innocent bloud and you would have joyned with them had you lived with them what ever your deceipt may say to the contrary And you are found in the same Opposition to the utmost power you have against the Spirit of Judgment now as they was then and the cause is the same now as it was then both they and you living in that which is for Judgment Fire and Condemnation therefore you cannot receive their Testimony who have that evil judged and condemned which you love and live in and for this cause Cain slew his Brother and so do all his generation and with that which you hate shall you be condemned and shall not be able to stand in judgment which is the Saints delight in which they are united to God as he hath said I â—os 2. 19. will betroth ye unto me for ever in righteousness and in judgment which righteousnes and Judgment must condemn the wicked So who hath Christ hath him in Judgment and righteousness and loves him his Judgment and righteousness but who is married unto the world cannot love that which is his Condemnation for so doing Concerning
your selves above your brethren for that came in by the devil and perfection is hid from it and all that live therein nither can it be bought or sold nor procured with all the industry of man Only such obtain it who wait in the light till they receive the free gift of rigteousness and be indued with power from above Not they who heare a thing in the notion and then declare it nor who see a work done and go do the like for none was more like to have been able ministers then the Apostles in this who had seen the mighty works of Christ and heard him and his doctrine but these were not fit for perfecting the Saints till they had received the same Spirit from above Therefore was they commanded to wait at Jerusalem till therewith they was indued and then they was made able ministers not of the letter but of the spirit and their testament in the spirit not old in the letter for that of the letter kills but the Spirit perfects And so all that ever beare the testament in spirit preach and beleive perfection but that testimony of the letter being without cannot perfect the comers thereto for the light faith hope love patience c. are gifts Spiritually given for perfecting and cannot be had any other way but in spirit freely given and freely received which gifts you know not nor the effect of them who are in the literal ministration but in your vain imaginations and comprehensions are Judging you know not what And limitting the spirituall covenant of God to the literall and because you who are in the letter searching with your witt can find no perfection therefore you will judge the spirituall covenant also That so the devill may for ever keep people from the coming in of the better hope for if the first covenant made nothing perfect nor the second neither what hope is there for people seeing no imperfection can enter into the kingdom of heaven Concerning Government or Magistracy THere is no just government but what is of God and in whomsoever he having called them placeth his power and authority which is just and righteous received in the light and from the anointing of Jesus and the subjection to his spiritual power in the soul whom the Father hath appointed King and Governour of all things in heaven and in earth And none can deserve the name of Christian governors but who by him are governed and do receive his authority with subjection thereunto in Spirit Therefore saith the Apostle Let every soul be subject to the higher power And he that will rule for God must first see that his own soul be subject to the higher power must know one higher then hee and so himselfe coming under that power then with that power authority upon him he goes forth to rule with God for God and having set up his Kingdom in his heart he goes to make way that his Kingdom may be set up in others that all may bow to his authority wherewith he is anointed from above and to which he is become subject for conscience sake And so his government being according to that in every conscience every one that minds that in the conscience shall witnesse him and his government to be of God and so he that resists shall receive to himselfe damnation witnessed by that in the conscience and all who own not that in the conscience which is pure to obey the Lord therein the sword of the Lord in the hand of his Minister shall be upon such and that of God to which he is subject even the anointing he hath received shall instruct him in the Spirit of meekenesse wisdome and judgment to find out the transgressor and lay the sword upon him and such shall not beare the sword in vaine but a terror to the evil doer shall be without respect to the persons of men or any other thing but onely to the law of God which is one with that in the conscience So is Christ honoured as Lawgiver and Judge and King and with this honour he honoureth such Rulers in the consciences of all his people and before all the world and though the world knows not the authority of such nor from whom they have it yet all that feare God doe and are made to confesse them before God and man and so Isay was made to confesse to Cyrus whom others counted a Heathen for it is the authority in the person that is honourable where ever it is placed so Moses was dreadfull in this authority though otherwise but a shepheard and the meekest man in the world and Samuel a poore man yet this authority made the Elders of Bethlem to tremble at his coming when they heard thereof Nay it is too much to instance in particulars for all that ever honoured God in this he honoured them whose names are a blessing to this day and their memoriall shall not rott for when such raignes the people rejoyce that delights in righteousnesse the just are bold and righteousnesse flourishes in the open streets and wickednesse is ashamed and is hid and the innocent clap their hands for joy that the Lord raignes and their governors are of themselves When Christ rules all in all then he makes his Officers peace and his exactors righteousnesse But if it be said Must not men own wicked Majestrates I say they are to be owned and obeyed in all things as they are appointed by God for God limits them and hath set bounds to them though they know it not and so far as they command the will of God they are to be obeyed for conscience sake but when they are contrary to God and command that which God forbids and forbid what he commands then God is to be obeyed and man denyed for Consciencesake for none can be obeyed for conscience sake who commands that which is contrary to that of God in the conscience though many do deny the Lord and conforme to such yet who are guided by the Spirit of God which keeps the conscience cleane never could but in all ages have suffered violence from such to keepe their consciences void of offence for so it must be when rulers themselves deny obedience to God in Spirit then all who walk after the Spirit must needs suffer by them And here is the ground of all persecution that ever was when governors are out of the feare of God and stand in their owne wills and walke after the flesh then that seed rules which persecutes him that is borne after the Spirit and so the enmity getting up snares are laid for the innocent to make him an offender for a word who is none indeed And from this ground have the Lambes beene devoured always as evill doers but ever innocent yet never wanting accusations as Heretickes Ring-leaders of Sects and Seditions Blasphemers and the like that so the Devill may the more blind the world least they should see his envie and their innocency
is plain 1 Cor. 10 therefore they were to keep their Consciences pure from things offered to Idols for they could not partake of the Table of the Lord and eat that which was sacrificed to Devils though in some Cases they might go to a Feast among Unbelievers yet whether they eat or drank they were to do it to the Lord as at his Table and not as at the Table of Gentiles whose feasting is in the Lust and so their meat they sacrifice to Devils and eat not to God and so do all who eat to the lust To keep from which there is no other thing can but to eat in remembrance of Christs death till he come who when he is come he takes the ordering and government of the Creature himself upon his shoulders and so ever keeps them out of the lust in all they do and so is the Creation restored and reconciled to God in Christ Jesus at his appearing till which time the Apostles exhorted to these things and warned of the contrary as Jude who saw some crept in among the Church who did turn the grace of God into lasciviousnesse walking after their own hearts lusts whereby they defile the flesh living in sensuality not having the Spirit to order them they fed themselves without fear and these were spots in their Feasts who being once inlightened and again giving way to the lusts and excesse they became twice dead plucked up by the roots yet had they great swelling words And of such like are many Examples at this day who have had something quickned in them to hope for the appearance of the Lord but fulnesse and excesse having overtaken them for want of eating alwayes in fear and in remembrance of his coming they are become dead again to any hope of his appearance at the present and have put his coming afar off into 1 Cor. 4. 5 6. another world yet are contending about the Shadows or Figures of his coming as they have imagined concerning them But are become reprobate Pil. 4. 5. in the Faith as to his appearance and plucked up by the roots And to avoid this it was the Lord Jesus commanded his Disciples in eating and drinking to shew forth his death till he came and they knowing this from the Lord gave it in example and warning to those who were convinced that in all fear and moderation they might wait for his appearance who at his coming would bring to light the hidden things and manifest the counsels of the heart and all its deceipts and become the Worker in them and then they should have praise of God and these things were transferred to the Apostles in a figure So they exhorted the Believers to whom the Lord was at hand to let their moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand which they knew All who get up into the liberty of the flesh rioting and excesse will put afar off as it is at this day with many who are in Observations outward who have a day to go into the Idols Temple and there to eat Bread and drink Wine in a Self-solemnity once a moneth or three times a year or as they imagine some affirming the Body and Blood of Christ to be in the Creature after Consecration as they call it some saying Nay but it is Spiritual after Consecration Others saying It is still carnall and not changed because of words and one imagines the body of Christ reall in it another not reall but by Faith as they say But in this they all agree that they return back into the pleasures of the flesh and fashions of the world there to eat and drink the rest of Gods Creatures to spend on their lusts and it must needs be so with such as do not discern his body in their eatings who is the body of all Creatures and filleth all things in Heaven and in Earth which they who stick in Observations never knew and with such he is alwayes to come or past But the carnall eye which stickes in the Visibles can never see him present to order the Creation out of the Lust and therefore it is that all the Creatures of God are turned to feed the Lust in that state as is seen in all the Worlds Profession and therefore accursed the more riches the more pride the more fullnesse the more lust in that state where Christ is not discerned present And so their eating is not the Supper of the Lord nor doth he sup with them in the Newbut in the lustfull Spirit become the table of the Devill where the Creatures are Sacrificed to his use so he keeps them in observation of a day from the letter which they think is worship but he bears rule in their whole lives by his Spirit and so much of the Creation as is in their hands is used at his will Aud hence is all lasciviousnesse wantonnesse strife fighting Suites and Violence Sports and Vanities too many here to mention all with the Creation is spent upon given not to that end for which they shall account who are in that state when shall be required his Corn and his Wine his Wooll and his Flax which he hath made for his use and to be ordered by his Son who is the fullnesse and vertue of every Creature which all know who come to his Supper where the Father and the Son are come in and Supp with the Creature which all the imitaters and observers of times are ignorant of whose contention is about out-sides And for the sake of such who are lost in this thing and troubled in minde concerning it what I have received of the Lord that I shall declare unto you which all shall witnesse to who come to pertake thereof as the truth is in Christ Jesus If you intend to supp with the Lord or shew the Lords death till he come let your Eating and Drinking so oft as you do it be in remembrance of him and in his feare that at death you may witnesse to the lust and excesse which is that which slew him since the Foundation of the World And is the great enemy of his appearance and that by which he lies slain in the great City which is called Sodom Egypt For all you that live in pleasure on the Earth and are wanton you that nourish your hearts as in the day of slaughter you have condemned and killed the Just and he doth not resist you and you must know a death to this before you can Supp with the Lord or he with you But if you eat in remembrance of him and so come to dye to that which slue him then do you shew the Lords death till he come and when he comes he shall not find you eating and drinking with the drunken nor beating your fellow-servants And this is known from the Lord in the Eternall to be the true end of the Supper of the Lord instituted and appointed that in the rememberance of his death they might
And all his works are by the law condemned untill the Resurrection of the seed and the Image of God be witnessed and all things subdued to him who is the end of the Law by whom the fruits of the Spirit are brought forth against which there is no Law And so by his resurrection and the vetrue thereof that which is of God in the Conscience is answered And so the creature saved from the condemnation of the Law of God which respects no mans person But hath respect to his own seed where it is raised but condemns all where it lyes in death and where death raigns So the Law that layes hold upon all trangressors we witnesse to endure spirituall just and good Given forth against the first Man and his works good or bad as people calls them yea though he set himself to do the workes of the Law never so zealously yet a witnesse of condemnation the pure Law of God is against him in his conscience untill the promised seed be born which is not of the will of the first Man nor after the flesh but after the spirit after the will of God one with the Law and by his grace who shews the merry and glad tydings Now Israel after the flesh who received the law in the literall Ministration and the carnall ordinances of them was Christ to be born who was made of a woman under the law to redeeme them that was under the law if they did beleive Even so now Israel fater the Spirit who receive the law in the Spirituall ministration written in the heart such shall witnesse the Child Born of the Royall seed heir of the promise even of Gods righteousnesse for the fulfilling of the pure Law of God for that end given forth Whereof there are many witnesses at this day who have patiently waited in what God hath written in their hearts seen with the light of Christ Who have therein received the faith of the Gospel and the end of that faith even Gods righteousnesse revealed from faith to faith whereby the pure law of God is fulfilled in many and fulfilling in others who abide in their measures of faith which God hath dealt to them walking in the Light not after the flesh but after the Spirit And so by the Law of the spirit of life which is in Christ Jesus see themselves set free from the law of sin and death And so witnesse the Gospel which you cannot do who cast the law of God and his Light behind your backs and in your vain minde say you are not under it in the day of tryal you will be found under the Condemnation thereof And that in every conscience shall witnesse thereto at that day Concerning Christ Jesus THis is He whom the world much talk of but few there be that know him though it be He by whom all things were made who is the Life of all Creatures the Beginning of all Creatures who was before all Creatures without Beginning of Dayes or End of Life a Priest for ever and a King of whose Dominion there is no end By him Kings reign and Dominions are cast down though they know him not where Self is standing who is hidden from the worlds wisdome and the depth of Prudence cannot find him out yet doth he reveal himself to such as walk in his light which is contrary to all the dark paths of the world nor can the will of man walk therein but who deny themselves that they may learn the way of the Lord to such he freely reveals his way for their return that he may bring them down from the seat of exaltation and make known to them their beginning and from whence they are digged that they may see him that bears up the pillars of the earth hath laid the foundation thereof who hath set the world in their hearts who stood not in his counsell so that they cannot find out the beginning nor the end of the work of God yet will vain man in that state be imagining touching him and from whence he had his beginning who is the Eternal Word before all time glorified in the Heavens with the Father who in time was manifest which Word became flesh and dwelt amongst us and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likenesse of men and being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to the death that he might become a living Example to all Generations which no Creature could be the whole Creation being in the Fall and having finished the Work of Redemption given him of the Father to do and for which he was begotten he ascended far above all Heavens to prepare a place for all that follow him by Faith in his Light and that from thence all such as wait for him may see his appearance as a Saviour and onely such know him for their Redeemer who know him for their Judge and Law-giver who love him and keep his Commands to such he comes and the Father also and make their abode with him And this is He who is the Light of the world and lighteth every man that comes into the world who stands at the door and knocks and if any hear his voyce and open he will come in and sup with him and such know him and he knows them who hear his voyce by which they are quickned out of the trespasses and sins and the Seed of God raised out of death but where Death reigns Christ is rejected and the wisdome by which he should be known is foolishnesse So if you desire to know him who is not of this world but who is before the world was a Witnesse against all the worlds wayes and wickednesse then mind that light in you which thus witnesseth for as Christ is so is his light that leads to him for that which bears testimony against the world is not of the world even as he is not of the world and so leads out of the world to him who is not known in the world for the world by wisdome knows him not And as thou follows the light out of the world thou wilt come to see the seed which by the worlds wisdome and glory is crucified to which Seed are all the Promises and wherein is all the knowledge of God and Christ and as that Seed is raised therein is the Father revealed and his Power and God-head in his Son Jesus Christ which in him dwels and without him is not revealed but being known is Life Eternal and Eternal Power and Eternal Glory and Riches made manifest in the Light for as you know this Seed raised by the same Spirit that raised Jesus Christ from the death so shall you see him to whom all power and judgment is committed in Heaven and Earth and for whom and by whom all things were made in Heaven and Earth of whom it is said When he bringeth his onely begotten Son into the world Let all the Angels worship